Gynger Snap 11

Where The Heart Is Part 3

Dee walked over in the used book store following Lyo as he perused the children's section. He furrowed his brow as he and Ryo had walked in holding hands. The clerk smiled at them. "Dee?" Ryo questioned as his husband placed a hand on his waist guiding him to where Lyo was still admiring the books. He held one up. "We already have that one," Ryo explained to his son with a sweet smile.

"Yeah, baby, but we have read that so much it is threadbare. We could stand to replace it." Dee took the book. "Yet if you want a new one Lyo you can get more than one." Dee held on to the 'little engine that could' while their child went back to the many books on display. "Have you noticed?" Dee spoke close to Ryo's ear enjoying his scent. Ryo lowered his brows in confusion. "We have been all over this mall and the only one who has given us an odd look is that Matt fellow. Aside from the usual celebrity in our midst photos, there has been no censure, no ignorance. " Dee smiled thinking he had never had such an easy day before out in the general public. "You know, two men, matching rings, with kids."

"I noticed," Ryo smiled. "If I admit that you were right and this is a nicer state will you promise not to gloat forever?"

"Maybe," Dee brought a hand up to his chin. "Will there be chaps involved?" Ryo was still blushing as they paid for their books and left the store.

"Dee! Ryo!" Bikky hurried over to his parents. Rain was grinning as he chewed. "I do believe he has tasted every cart and vendor here. But that's nothing new, come over here a sec." Ryo and Dee followed their sons over to a store with a large rustic sign. "Check out this furniture and décor. It just screams mountain home. And that bed looks like it would be near impossible to break. You guys can go wild and not have to worry."

"Our bed is impossible to break this time, it was made on Arcadia," Dee grumbled.

"And that bed was old," Ryo flushed as he muttered. "Not that it is any of your business." Ryo reached over to pinch Bikky's nose gasping as the boy smacked a hand over his bottom. "Hey!" Ryo frowned as Rain did the same followed by Lyo. "Now look what you have done, you have taught this abuse of my butt to Lyo."

"Family tradition," Bikky joked as the store clerk obviously snapped a photo with her phone.

"Da-Ryo look, a treehouse bed, can I have a treehouse bed?" Lyo hurried over to the set up of a child's room with a treehouse bunk bed, carved treasure chest toy box, and wooden dressers. "Da-Dee, look!" Lyo pointed to the large bear rug with its teeth bared. "Is that a real bear?"

"Looks like it used to be," Rain finished his deep-fried snack. "May I use your trash please?"

The young clerk smiled at Rain her hazel eyes glazed over with reverent tears. "Of course, you can," She held over the bin awed when he dropped his napkin in. "I am Lilliana, I have every CD you have ever made and recorded every video. I have been to three concerts, two of which I begged my parents to let me travel to see. You are so amazing and gorgeous. Oh my God," She then turned to Julie. "Even your girlfriend is beautiful." She looked over to Ryo and Dee marveling at the king-size model of a bed frame. " Your parents are beautiful, is there any part of your life that is not beautiful?"

"His big brother," Bikky stood in front of Julie and Rain with his arms crossed over his chest. "Who gets annoyed when he is harassed while he is out shopping with family."

"You're beautiful too," Lilliana sighed her sandy hair bobbing around her head as she nodded. "But I get it. I'm sorry," Lilliana backed away.

"Here," Rain handed her a photo from one of his large pockets that he quickly signed encouraging Julie to sign as well. "See ya." Rain smiled as he left the store leaving Ryo and Dee to peruse the well-made wooden furniture.

"Why'd you do that?" Bikky asked wondering why his brother had given her the novelty photo he and Julie had posed for at the mall.

"We can take another," Rain sighed with a laugh. "And I would hate for her to walk around with trash. She seems the type to collect a used napkin just because I used it." Julie sighed, her heart melting at the kind, beautiful young man who ruled her heart.

Bikky shook his head smiling at his younger brother. "You know, you don't have to be so amazing all the time." Bikky was laughing as he lead them back to the photo booth. "You guys take your picture." He inclined his head to Misaki assuring that the salamander squire would keep his eyes on Rain. Bikky took Julie's hand. "C'mere," He walked her into a jewelry store.

"Oh… Oh no," Ryo gasped seeing his oldest son head into the expensive store. "He's not even seventeen yet. I'm not ready for this."

Dee patted Ryo's shoulder finding his fretting adorable. "I do believe that he would tell you before he bought an engagement ring, he might even want you to pick it out considering that you are good at that. Not to mention that he would more than likely want it made on Arcadia."

"Right," Ryo sighed. "You are right. I do not know why I am spazzing, he is just so mature for his age."

"And he is your son," Ryo sighed at Dee's words. "He is so much like you sometimes."

"Just as he is influenced and just like you." Ryo held the strong hand at his side glad that they did not have to hide their affection in public. "It would not surprise me if he is thinking along those lines where Julie is concerned. She did stand for him at his squiring."

"And I will bet," Dee took a pamphlet from the stand with some of their furniture and website information. "When the time comes, you will be the first to know. You always are." Ryo smiled taking their young son from the store He hurried after Lyo who spotted Misaki and Spike dashing to their side.

"Saki," Lyo piped up drawing his eyes down. Spike turned his gaze to Rain and Julie keeping them in his sight. "Have you read the Engine that could?"

Misaki displayed his dimples as he glanced down at the young boy. " I have not. I fear human literature is not something that I am well versed in."

"You can read it to me tonight," Lyo informed him. "That way you can see what I see and I can get my story."

"What you see?" Spike asked still watching the young dragon prince as he laughed tasting various forms of international candy.

"The engine that could is you," Lyo nodded revealing to Ryo the influence of Dragon sage on his youngest son. "It's little and mighty and does what no one thinks it could. All it had to do was make it up a hill, you beat up a helgod." Spike ruffled Lyo's hair grinning as the little boy ran off with his parents leaving them to watch after Rain.

"He's right, you know," Spike whispered close to Misaki's ear just as Bikky came back over. Julie flashed her new tennis bracelet.

"Thanks, guys, you know the rules, two or more," Bikky grinned taking Rain into an art supply store. "I need paint," He explained. Bikky chuckled then as Misaki pulled Spike into the Spencers. "He is kind of aggressive for a bottom, hope Spike can keep up." He muttered perusing the shelves. "I wonder if they will beat us back to base." Rain shook his head at his brother checking out a few journals.

Break

Zarro paced around the waterfall waiting for his group to return for the night. His gargantuan paws pounded into the dirt forcing more of his essence into the land. Kriss fluttered about his head waiting for her teammates to make it back as well. He heard the large SUVs pulling in with a soft growl he shifted into his human form stomping over as the doors opened. "You are right your majesty," Count D spoke in his deep, soothing voice. "The land is indeed sick. Yet it is fighting the good fight and defending itself. The people here are a refreshing level of Kind. We have been around the towns and only met one bigot."

"Then if there is darkness encroaching, it would be from a demon." Kriss mused nibbling her thumb. "Tonight we should go out again. Sans youth. Just the seasoned warriors. Nisha, Maks, and I will be a distraction if you have someone that can replace our guitarist."

"My Will-ii-um can play guitar," Misaki sauntered over with his bags of new clothing. "And Piano, as well as sight-read musical notes. I hear that is a rarity."

"How talented," Kriss smiled over at Misaki and Spike. She saw Ryo standing with his arms folded staring at the high king of Arcadia. "I see your next appointment is waiting for a word with you. William, please come with us so that we can prepare for our performance. And you," She looked at Misaki. "I know that your voice is the stuff of the angels. You will be able to assist as well." Misaki smiled as he and Spike walked off with the little fairy warrior. He hoped they killed many demons tonight.

Zarro grinned as Ryo stomped over. Bikky and Rain took one look at their dad before they took Lyo running into the cabin of High Prince Nestoir. "How was the mall?" Zarro asked with a bigger smile on his face as he stretched out into his full form. Ryo stood in front of the gargantuan white lion staring up into his wide maw smiling down at him.

"If you wanted us to move here permanently you could have just said so," Ryo frowned up. "I do not appreciate the tinkering with the minds of our children." Dee stood beside Ryo glowering up at Zarro. "The fact that they worked so hard to convince me, you must have been working on them for a while."

"I never suggested anything to your children," Zarro shrank down again to his human form. "I only made the transition obvious to you and your spouse. The minds of the children were moved on their own when they saw how well you are looking in this climate. And to be honest with you, the suggestions started only after I noticed the same thing." Zarro pulled Ryo's face down until he could meet his dark eyes. "This land is indeed sick. But I know that a fuller presence of Arcadia here will make it better. I will install a consulate here and make it so that you can continue to be a detective if you wish."

"You did not interfere with our children," Dee sighed. He knew that the king would never lie to them. "Alright then." Dee smiled pulling Ryo toward their cabin. "We will get to work on the transition. My home is wherever he is."

Break

Dae stomped down the alley smiling at the slick pavement that scraped against his boots. A theft here, shots there. It was all so easy. He left just enough of his presence to foul the air, leaving quickly before they could pin him down. Humans were so easily manipulated. Dae pulled the young man along behind him. He would leave this body for them to find. He would be tainted with just enough demonic essence to lead the Arcadians on a merry chase. Yet in the end, he would leave them guessing. He would have this land soured with rot from within long before they figured it out.

"Dude, do you have the stuff or not?" The young man gripped about their long trek down alleys and around corners.

"Oh," Dae turned with a purring grin. "I have exactly what you need." Dae rushed forward pinning the human to the wall before he shoved his blade in deep. He twisted yanking out large gobs of intestines leaving them to trail down his legs where he stood shuddering covered in blood, entrails, and urine. "Well now, aren't you just the perfect little present for their royal highnesses?" The sound of Dae's boots was all that remained in the alley with the corpse as he and Florian walked off into the night.

To Be Continued